TurboXTools™ DH Door Hemming Drill Attachment

Efficiently hem the edges of replacement door skins for passenger vehicle and light trucks with limited manual “tacking” requirements. The drive shaft of this power-assisted Turbo-X-Tool DH Hemming attachment inserts into the chuck of a minimum 14.4 Volt cordless or maximum 7 Amp A/C drill. A telescoping clamp adjusts to fit length and width of any drill housing. Optional spacers are included with clamp. The clamp collar allows the shear head to rotated 360° and can be set in any position for optimum tool clearance when navigating profiles and to facilitate easy material flow.

The installed Hemming attachment is easily operated with one hand. Remove the old door skin and prep the door as usual. Slightly angling the upright lip of the replacement door skin with a hammer and dolly and flattening the point of entry will ensure smooth operation. For best results, keep the anvil of the Hemming tool flush against the outer edge and finished side of the door skin. The high impact, ABS polymer anvil will not scratch or mar the replacement door skin. A narrow seaming wheel fits flush against the anvil fence to provide a tight, clean hemmed door edge. The Malco DH Hemming Tool attachment is resistant to solvents and is easily cleaned of the adhesive used between the door skin and panel.

FAQs

The tool folds over the flange edge of a replacement door skin to create a hem (finished edge).

We will, however, soon introduce a power-assisted tool that precisely trims off the folded round edge of a door hem to facilitate fast and easy removal of a damaged door skin.

What preparations should be completed before using the tool?

Preparations before using the tool involve removing the old door skin, grinding away hardened adhesive and applying new adhesive before setting the replacement skin in place. Slightly angling the factory-set 90 degree upright flange and tacking down corner points of entry ensures a smooth hemming operation with either the DHT1 Drill Attachment or DHT1A Air Tool.

Is it necessary to pre-bend the flange before starting?

A slight pre-bend that is just a few degrees less than 90 can be critical to avoid bending in the wrong direction and flattening, rather than folding, the flange.

Will the tool hem around curves?

Mild curves, yes. The DHT1 and DHT1A tools work on most edges and angles of the door skin but will not hem around sharp curves or corners, nor will it traverse sharp body lines or profiles. As the literature states, this tool hems door skins with “speed and precision” and is an “efficient solution” with “limited manual tacking requirements”. Instructions in the package refer to “hemming applications (that) include flat or mild concave and convex door skin profiles.

The tool does not scratch or mar the door skin when properly adjusted and operated.

What is the average door hem depth?

The Average Door Hem Depth for passenger vehicles and light trucks is about 3/8-in (9.5 mm) based on a minimum Depth of 1/4-in. (6.4 mm) and a Maximum Depth of ½-in. (12.7 mm).

What anvil position will give the best performance?

The non-marring ABS polymer anvil is factory adjusted for best performance in an Average Hem Thickness of 0.12-in. (roughly 1/8-in or 3 mm). The tool should work properly right out of the package for most door hemming applications without having to make readjustments. The anvil can be easily loosened, adjusted and re-tightened for exceptions.

Operating instructions in packaging, for both DHT1 and DHT1A tools, note trouble shooting tips and corrective adjustments of the tool, or operator technique, to ensure blemish-free hemming.

How does the tool perform compared to the “Astro” tool?

In-house trials show that the DHT1 and DHT1A tools produce a smoother, cleaner hem than the “Astro” tool and are also easier to feed and maneuver than the “Astro”.

Can the tool be cleaned?

Yes. DHT1 and DHT1A Hemming Tools are resistant to common solvents found in auto-body shops and so are easily cleaned of any overflow of adhesive used between the door skin and door panel. The polished steel wedge above the anvil is easily removed to thoroughly clean the narrow seaming wheel, as well as the anvil, before storage.

How quickly will the anvil wear-out? How quickly will the tool wear out?

The anvil is a replaceable part that should last a minimum of 6-months before being considered worn out. This estimated life is based on hemming 22-gauge (0.76 mm) door skins of passenger vehicles and light trucks with normal usage of 6 to 10 doors per month at an average hem length of 8-ft (2.44) per door.

The estimated total life of the tool is 3-years based on the same usage criteria. Higher rates of usage and/or heavier gauge door skins will shorten the life of the tool and the replacement anvil.

These estimates do not imply any Malco warranty additions or guarantees.

How do you know if the anvil is worn out, or the tool is worn out?

It is recommended that, prior to the anvil no longer producing an acceptable door skin hem, the anvil should be replaced if worn spots, of 1/16-in (1.6 mm) depth or greater, appear on the anvil fence that butts up and guides the hemming tool along the rolled metal edge produced by the hemming operation. If replacement of the anvil is delayed and greater wear is allowed, the seaming wheel may start to leave a visible line on the hem.

The hemming tool itself can last indefinitely with normal use (as earlier defined for calculating estimated tool life) assuming normal replacement of the anvil and regular cleaning of the anvil and seaming wheel before storage of the tool in a dry environment. End-of-life tool failure from normal usage would ultimately involve slipping or freezing of worn head gears and drive or, in the case of the air powered hemming tool, possibly worn gears in the air motor.